Aarav, Palak take their teams into U-12 MSSA finals

Aarav Vora of Podar International CBSE school. Pic/Anurag Ahire

Aarav Vora, 11, of Podar International CBSE School (Powai) and Palak Jhawar, 10, of Utpal Shanghvi Global School (Juhu) were instrumental in leading their schools into the boys and girls U-12 team championship finals respectively in the MSSA inter-schools table tennis tournament, at the Hansraj Morarji Public School, Andheri on Friday afternoon.

Podar International charged to a quick win against Utpal Shanghvi Global School (Juhu) by a 2-0 margin in a semi-final match. However, there was plenty to cheer for Utpal as their girls team, consisting of Palak, Myra Jalan and Shanaya Sharma, defeated Jamnabai Narsee School (Juhu) 2-0 in a semi-final contest on an adjacent table.

Palak Jhawar

Bespectacled Aarav was cool, calm and in complete control against Utpal Sanghvi's Neev Mehta and coasted to a 3-0 (11-4,11-4, and 11-8) victory to give his school a 1-0 lead. Later, Aarav along with doubles partner Kushagra Gupta, who replaced the rested Shaurya Karkera, faced a late fightback from the Utpal Sanghvi pair of Parth Danesha and Neev before clinching a 3-1 (11-7, 3-11, 11-8, and 11-7) win for a place in the final.

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Palak displayed excellent skills as she charged past Manya Arora 3-0 (11-0, 11-1, and 11-2). Later, Palak in the company of Myra Jalan recovered after losing the first game to overcome Radhya Vora and Manya in four games at 3-1 (2-11, 14-12, 11-5, and 11-6) which sealed their victory and a place in the final.